Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of March 16th.

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Let's get into it with project updates:

1. The newly completed $514 million Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento Superior Courthouse will open in phases starting at the end of this month.
2. Commissioners in Oklahoma County, Okla., have voted to move forward with the next phase of its new jail project, unlocking approximately $260 million of already approved funding.
3. The Madison County Commission in Alabama has selected Goodwin Mills Cawood to serve as the Architect of Record for the county's upcoming $100 million new courthouse project.
4. Officials in Island County, Wash., began hosting a series of meetings to discuss potential sites for a new adult and juvenile detention facility, with options ranging from $88.8 million to $100.7 million.
5. Commissioners in Penobscot County, Maine, have released initial floor plans for a proposed new jail that would cost between $70 million and $75 million.
6. The Camden County Board of Commissioners in New Jersey celebrated the opening of the new Camden County Department of Corrections Reentry Release Center.

Up next in legislation and funding:

1. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has proposed a $523 million budget for the Alaska Department of Corrections for the next fiscal year.
2. Legislation advanced by Iowa House lawmakers last week would create a new account within the Iowa Prison Infrastructure Fund for future correctional facility needs.

Moving on to people news:

1. Guy Mellozzi has joined HOK's Civic and Justice team as the new Director of Business Development.

Next, in construction reports:

1. Shelby County, Ala., is seeking bids from vendors to provide a new jail management system at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Facility, with bids due March 24.
2. The Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services is seeking bids for the construction of a new floor of housing and a consolidated healthcare unit at the Halawa Correctional Facility, with bids due April 2.
3. The Town of Estes Park, Colo., has issued an RFP to architecture and engineering firms for a new public safety facility, with proposals due April 8.

And finishing up with events:

1. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's 2026 Conference and Expo opened in St. Louis on Monday and will run through Saturday.
2. Next week, the Correctional Leaders Association heads to Hilton Head, S.C., for its annual Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference from March 24–27.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.